Announcing…
2004 GIUSEPPE RINALDI BAROLO
An uncompromising approach to greatness

GIUSEPPE RINALDI is an icon in Piedmont — a man who has never wavered from the traditional methods of making Barolo. For Rinaldi, there is no struggle, no doubt or question about the way to achieve great Barolo. Rinaldi vinifies nebbiolo according to the most traditional methods before aging slowly in the large wood “botte” casks. “Barolo is about tertiary aromas,” he explains. The interesting aromas can develop only after three or four years in barrel.” Rinaldi has little use for modern techniques when tradition and experience have produced outstanding wines of incredible longevity, some tasting young & fresh after 40+ years.

Barolos of this caliber are born out of the land, the nebbiolo grapes, vintage conditions, and time. Modern techniques have no place in this process.

Unwavering, unyielding, uncompromising.
Power, elegance, austerity; complexity, aromatics, longevity. Rinaldi’s Barolo is a wine of singular distinction. VINTAGES is proud to offer these 2004 Barolos from Giuseppe Rinaldi.

2004 RINALDI BAROLO “Cannubi Ravera (San Lorenzo)” $128/bottle ($108.80 case price). “Excellent deep red-ruby color. The nose began a bit reduced, then opened spectacularly to show red berries, black licorice, chestnut, brown spices, truffle, mocha and minerals … Less obviously fleshy than the Brunate but already quite expressive despite its rather primary cherry fruit, with snappy acidity accentuating the wine’s inner-mouth floral character. The tannins here are chewy, ripe and wonderfully suave for so-called old-style Barolo. I find this utterly compelling. Cannubi becomes more floral with aging and gains in length, says Rinaldi, while the Brunate takes on a stronger tar-and-chocolate character.” — Tanzer, Int’l Wine Cellar

2004 RINALDI BAROLO “Brunate Le Coste” $128/bottle ($108.80 case price) 94 pts.
“Good deep red. Knockout nose offers roasted plum, mocha, brown spices, chocolate and underbrush. Offers superb concentration for the vintage, with excellent vinosity to its flavors of sappy, candied black raspberry and spices. Very rich and broad wine, with big tannins arriving late to dust the palate. This will take a decade or two of bottle aging to evolve fully. 94 pts.” –Tanzer, Int’l Wine Cellar

2002 ALBINO ROCCA BARBARESCO due mila due $25! The recent visit and tasting with Barbara Engist-Rocca allowed us to not only indulge our palates in the winery’s outstanding 2001 and 2004 Barbarescos, but to re-taste the 2002 Barbaresco. In 2002, their only bottling contained the combined fruit of both “Brich Ronchi” and “Loreto” vineyards. Leave it to the Wine Dog to sniff out a great deal from a not-so-great vintage — the 2002 Barbaresco offers lightly floral aromas, lush cocoa tannins, characteristic cherry-chocolate flavors. “Rocca’s 2002 Barbaresco is one of the best wines of the vintage. It displays an evolved nose of leather, spices, and tobacco, with plenty of sweet stewed prune flavors in a relatively soft and supple style for the vintage, finishing with substantial tannins.” — Wine Advocate

*Introducing Barolo from BURLOTTO! VINTAGES Exclusive!
G.B. BURLOTTO: The Return of a Piedmont Legend!
Why Burlotto? It’s about a vineyard and a visionary. The vineyard is Monvigliero in Verduno, located between Alba and La Morra, which is known for producing wines of a unique character– intense and pure aromas, powerful structure, and an elegant mouthfeel. Full-flavored, expressive, yet never heavy. The visionary is G.B. Burlotto, one of the pioneering innovators of Barolo. In the late 1800’s, Burlotto was one of the first to sell his Barolo in bottles, as opposed to barrels or casks as was common at the time. His bottled Barolos from Cannubi and Verduno won several medals in international fairs, and he quickly garnered a top reputation in the region.

Once again, under the management of Marina Burlotto, the founder’s great-niece, her husband, Giuseppe Alessandria, and their son, Fabio, the G.B. Burlotto winery is fulfilling the founder’s vision. Burlotto wines express the particular terrain of the Verduno area, which is known for beautifully fragrant wines with a powerful structure and complexity, yet an very elegant mouthfeel. We invite you to explore these beautifully pure and aromatic wines of Verduno from Burlotto!

Barolos and more from BURLOTTO 2004 BURLOTTO BAROLO Vigneto Cannubi $75 Cannubi is an historically important vineyard that yields a Barolo with richer fruit and powerful structure. Burlotto’s Fabio vinifies with an eye to drawing out the vineyard’s aromatics and a delicious balsamic pungency that informs very expressive, supple tannins on the elegant finish. 2004 BURLOTTO BAROLO Vigneto Monvigliero $75 The tradition of crushing the grapes using “foot treading” is still carried on for the nebbiolo from the hillside Monvigliero vineyard. The greatness of Monvigliero is captured by its signature aromatics, which are unique among Barolos. The amazingly intense perfume of provencal black olive tapenade, cedar and truffle is nothing less than hypnotic. Tremendous complexity, finesse, supple tannins, and long, lingering finish. 2006 BURLOTTO BARBERA “Aves” $30 Deep, powerful Barbera with vibrant plum and cherry flavors, pure concentration of lush fruit and enticing aromas. Balanced acidity and spicy tannins on the long finish. 2006 BURLOTTO Langhe Freisa $22 A different style of traditional Freisa from this region, with darker plum fruit, cocoa powder and earthy flavors; still wine, not sparkling; served at at cellar temperature. 2006 BURLOTTO Pelaverga $22 A very rare ancient variety of red grape grown only in the immediate area of Verduno. Deep ruby color, juicy, elegant, superfine tannins, entrancing rose petal aromas. Unusually delicious! 2005 BURLOTTO Elatis Rosato $19.99 A delightful, yet surprisingly structured rosé made from nebbiolo with racy red berry fruit. Plum fruit, a pleasing minerality; absolutely refreshing!

WINE DOG DEAL!
2007 LE SALETTE Chardonnay $15.99

LE SALETTE has long been one of our favorite producers of AMARONE, Recioto and Valpolicella. Franco & Monica Scamperle are passionate about making wines from their town of Fumane in th e Veneto that are elegant and expressive. Their newly released CHARDONNAY is no exception. Inspired by Franco’s love of Burgundy, the Le Salette Chardonnay is all about fruit and finesse, fresh nectarine with a mi neral undertone. Bravo!
Wine Dog Price: $15.99
Reg. Price: $17.99

A new winery in the region, PERTICAIA is winning top honors for its 2004 Sagrantino Montefalco made from 100% sagrantino grapes, a traditional, native variety. Owner Guido Guardigli has much to be proud of, launching an outstanding winery and creating one of the most successful expressions of the sagrantino grape. PERTICAIA also makes delicious, easy-drinking sangiovese blends. Outstanding for fall!

2004 PERTICAIA SAGRANTINO MONTEFALCO $48 –Three Glasses Winner!
100% Sagrantino. Warm, ripe, raspberry fruit, with spicy intensity and dense, mouth-filling texture. “Stunning bouquet packed with blackberry flavors wrapped in balsam and lush spices. Spacious, deep, and dense yet dynamic on the palate, with lush tannins. Still young, of course, but its true soul will be revealed through the years.”–Gambero Rosso 2008

2005 PERTICAIA MONTEFALCO ROSSO $22
60% Sangiovese, 15% Colorino, 15% Sagrantino and 10% Merlot. Fresh with the aromas and flavors of wild raspberries and blueberries. Med-full body, with sweet tannins.

2007 PERTICAIA UMBRIA ROSSO $14.99
80% Sangiovese, 10% Colorino, 10% Merlot
Deep plum color, rich and smooth texture with black cherry notes. Full and expressive, delicious Sangiovese!